The Skirt That Almost Never Was

Just a basic pencil skirt, one to replace my trusty Marks and Spencer number when it inevitably wears out. An "instant" skirt pattern. I started this shortly after completing the Apple Dress (autumn 2010), but for some reason I got discouraged (looking over the instructions, I think it may have been that the waistband stumped me) and the project was shelved, half-finished.

When I was drawing up my sewing schedule for the year I determined that I'd complete that skirt and so, finally, here it is. Although it's not quite the wiggle shape that I'd like in an ideal world, it's a very comfortable skirt, and easy to walk in thanks to the back kick pleat.

(that's not me "whipping my hair back and forth", it was the wind!)

Pattern: McCall's 4312 "Instant" one yard skirt


Fabric: Medium weight wool Prince of Wales check.

Alterations: Not much - just making a folded waistband interfaced with petersham instead of doing as the pattern directed, which was to face the waistband with ribbon and add an inner band of belting.

Techniques: Hemming with hem tape (it looks very neat and pretty).

Time to complete: Two years (!!)

Make again? For sure I'll make another pencil skirt (I NEED one in teal), so I might use the pattern again, though I'll probably adapt it to have side seams and taper slightly towards the hem. And make it just a touch smaller on the waist - I don't think I properly account for how snug I like things on the waist.